Analog controller for electronic throttle body

Abstract

A throttle assembly for an engine may include a remote throttle lever, a sensor, and a terminal. The remote throttle lever may be coupled physically to a user input device and operable to be moved under control of the user input device. The sensor is configured to detect a position of the remote throttle lever and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the remote throttle lever. The terminal configured to provide the output signal to a controller of the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A throttle control device for an engine, the throttle control device comprising:
 a throttle lever configured to receive user input, wherein the throttle lever is movable within a range of positions including a first position and a second position in response to the user input; 
 a sensor configured to detect the position of the throttle lever in the range of positions and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever; 
 a terminal configured to provide the output signal to a controller of the engine; and 
 a calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever to the second position when the calibration input is actuated by a user after moving the throttle lever to the second position. 
 
     
     
       2. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable that couples the throttle lever to a user input device. 
     
     
       3. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein a voltage of the output signal is proportional to the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       4. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal is located within a connector. 
     
     
       5. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
       6. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer having a variable resistance depending on the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       7. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a linear variable differential transformer. 
     
     
       8. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration input is one of a button, slider, or clip. 
     
     
       9. An engine comprising:
 an electronic control unit; 
 a throttle control device comprising:
 a throttle lever configured to receive user input, wherein the throttle lever is movable within a range of positions including a first position and a second position in response to the user input; 
 a sensor configured to detect the position of the throttle lever in the range of positions and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever; 
 a terminal configured to provide the output signal to the electronic control unit of the engine; and 
 a calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever to the second position as a result of a user moving the throttle lever from the first position to the second position and actuating the calibration input; and 
 
 an actuator configured to operate a throttle of the engine in response to a throttle position signal from the electronic control unit. 
 
     
     
       10. The engine of  claim 9 , further comprising a cable that couples the throttle lever to a user input device. 
     
     
       11. The engine of  claim 9 , wherein a voltage of the output signal is proportional to the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       12. The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the terminal is located within a connector. 
     
     
       13. The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
       14. The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer having a variable resistance depending on the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       15. The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor includes a linear variable differential transformer. 
     
     
       16. A method for operating a throttle of an engine, the method comprising:
 receiving a user input at a throttle lever of a throttle control device; 
 detecting a position of the throttle lever via a sensor of the throttle control device; 
 generating an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever; 
 calibrating the throttle lever via a calibration input of the throttle control device, the calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever in response to the throttle lever being moved to a new reference position and the calibration input being actuated; and 
 controlling the throttle, via an actuator, according to the output signal. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein controlling the throttle according the output signal comprises generating a command to move a throttle plate. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein detecting the position of the throttle lever comprises measuring a resistance, the resistance indicative of the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein detecting the position of the throttle lever comprises measuring an inductance, the inductance indicative of the position of the throttle lever. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein detecting the position of the throttle lever comprises measuring the position of the throttle lever with a position sensor. 
     
     
       21. The throttle control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the calibration input is movably supported by the housing.